Prime Minister Keir Starmer Fast-Tracked Peter Mandelson Despite Epstein Ties, Government Files Reveal

Government files released on 11 March 2026 show that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was explicitly warned that Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein posed a reputational risk, yet Mandelson was confirmed as ambassador to Washington in December 2024.

“The British government will begin releasing on Wednesday the first set of official documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to Washington in December 2024, a decision that has been under intense political and parliamentary scrutiny for months because of the well-known ties between the veteran Labour figure and the US financier convicted of sexual offences, Jeffrey Epstein”

ABC

The documents include a Cabinet Office due-diligence note flagging a “general reputational risk” and media reporting describes officials alerting the prime minister to the problem before the appointment — a finding that has prompted intense parliamentary and public scrutiny.

ABC

Sources emphasise that the first tranche of papers was published under constraints agreed with police to avoid prejudicing an active criminal investigation into Mandelson.

The released files lay out specific red flags: officials cited a long-running connection between Mandelson and Epstein dating back to at least 2002, a 2019 JPMorgan-commissioned report and notes that Mandelson "reportedly stayed in Epstein’s House while he was in jail in June 2009."

Emails published in the tranche also show Mandelson having promoted meetings between Epstein and senior figures in the early 2000s, underscoring why vetters flagged the relationship as a distinct reputational concern.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senior officials recorded concerns about how Mandelson was put forward for the post: notes of a fact-finding call say National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell found the process "unusual" and "weirdly rushed,"

“- Published Government documents running to 147 pages have revealed new details about the appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US and the fallout from his sacking last year”

BBC

Powell reported he raised reputation concerns to Starmer’s then-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney — who responded that the issues had been addressed.

At the same time, internal correspondence shows the prime minister’s communications director was "satisfied with his responses" about contact with Epstein, illustrating disagreements within No.10 about the adequacy of vetting.

The political and legal fallout has been significant: Starmer sacked Mandelson in September 2025 amid fresh revelations,

Mandelson was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released on bail, and senior Downing Street figures resigned amid the crisis.

Boston Herald

The documents also disclose Mandelson sought a large severance claim — forms showed a request of £547,201 — though the Treasury ultimately approved a much smaller settlement of £75,000, a detail that has fuelled further criticism in Parliament and the press.

Downing Street says more files will follow and that some material has been withheld or redacted to avoid prejudicing the police probe; ministers insist further releases will demonstrate Mandelson misled officials.

“British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned that Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein posed a “general reputational risk” ahead of his appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the United States, according to a trove of files released Wednesday by the British government”

CNN

Government spokespeople and Darren Jones defended the staggered publication and argued the initial tranche "did not expose the depth and extent" of the relationship,

CNN

while opposition MPs and critics say the released papers already raise serious questions about Starmer’s judgment and the vetting process.